This work is a tale about the 'void' between a mother and a daughter; growing up with very little knowledge of each other. Having spent most of her life away from the mother with minimal and interaction and communication. Through this work, I aim to reflect on the constant and prevalent visual memory that transports the daughter to her the maternal home where she only meets her mother on annual celebrations and family gatherings for a brief period. The ephemeral opportunity to see the mother busy with her tireless sessions of cooking on raw charcoal for the entire family.
My work explores the complexity of a relationship and connection between two individuals through material and the impact of growing up separately in an ever changing environments under the influence of other people. Scraping through layers of memories and connection to birth place within the crevices of past and present experiences. Through this process, I am exploring the notion of separation that exists between individuals through their migration in life; carrying an urge to rekindle the relationship through materials. The work incorporates inscription in Urdu and English languages that are familiar and abstract to my mother as the duality of spaces
Courtesy of .M Contemporary
Mehwish Iqbal is a Pakistan born multidisciplinary artist residing and practising in Sydney. Iqbal received her Bachelor of Fine Arts with a major in printmaking in 2002 at the National College of Arts, Pakistan and then continued the Masters of Arts with a Printmaking Major at the University of New South Wales in 2011.
Iqbal has exhibited both in Australia and overseas including at Sydney Contemporary; Art Central Hong Kong; Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre; Istanbul Contemporary Art Fair, Turkey; International Print Biennale, Karachi; International Museum for Women, San Francisco; and CATM Gallery, Chelsea, New York. Iqbal has received many awards and achievements including selection as a finalist in several prizes: Blake Prize (2018), Paramor Art Prize (2017), Fisher's Ghost Art Award (2015) and the International Emerging Artist Award, Dubai (2014).
Mehwish is currently completing a residency through The New York Art Residency & Studios (NARS) Foundation and is represented by .M Contemporary, Sydney.
raw charcoal
30 x 80 x 8 cm
Finalist
Judges of the 2018 Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize: Michael Lynch AO CBE (Australian Arts administrator, former Director of Sydney Opera House and former CEO of West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, Hong Kong) and Amanda Love (Director Loveart, independent Art Advisory).
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